John barry composer biography for kids

1. Biography of John Barry
2. Early Career and James Bond
3. Acclaim and Innovations
4. Legacy and Personal Life

Biography of John Barry

John Barry Prendergast, known as John Barry, was born in 1933 in York, Yorkshire, England. He attended St Peter's School in York, where he began playing the piano under the guidance of Francis Jackson, a renowned organist at York Minster Cathedral. Even during his military service from 1952 to 1955, Barry never stopped pursuing his passion for music. In 1957, he formed his own band called 'The John Barry Seven', which gained popularity with compositions like 'Hit and Miss'.

Early Career and James Bond

John Barry's parents were involved in the film industry, and he first worked on film music in the late 1950s. His first project was the film 'Beat Girl' in 1959, where he collaborated with singer Adam Faith. In 1962, the famous spy film 'Dr. No' from the James Bond series was released, which not only brought fame to the lead actor Sean Connery but also showcased Barry as the composer of the main musical theme. Barry replaced composer Monty Norman and his previously written theme, which did not impress the producers. The 'James Bond Theme' became widely recognized and one of the most iconic film melodies in history. Barry went on to compose music for 11 out of 14 Bond films.

Acclaim and Innovations

Barry's music became an integral part of films, including 'Zulu', 'Midnight Cowboy', 'Mary, Queen of Scots', 'Follow Me!', 'Murphy's War', and many others. He won his first Academy Award in the late 1960s for the soundtrack of 'The Lion in Winter' and his second Oscar in 1966 for the drama 'Born Free', where he composed the 'Best Song' and 'Best Original Score'. In the 1970s, Barry relocated to the United States due to significant tax issues in the UK.

John Barry was recognized and appreciated for his unique style, which prominently featured strings and brass instruments. He was also an innovator, being the first to incorporate synthesizers into film music in 1969's 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. He frequently collaborated with popular musicians and utilized popular songs, as seen in 'Midnight Cowboy'. In 1990, Barry composed the musical theme for Kevin Costner's acclaimed film 'Dances with Wolves'.

Legacy and Personal Life

Throughout his five-decade-long career, John Barry composed music for over 115 films and television shows. However, he is best known for his contributions to the James Bond series. His numerous accolades include an Academy Award, Grammy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Emmy Awards, and various nominations. In 1998, John Barry was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Barry was married four times. His first wife was Barbara Pickard from 1959 to 1963. He then had a relationship with actress and director Jane Birkin from 1965 to 1968. He was married to Jane Sidey for two years until 1971. His fourth and final wife was Laurie, with whom he spent the rest of his life. Barry had four children from different marriages: Jonpatrick, Susie, Sian, and Kate.

At the age of 77, John Barry passed away from a heart attack on January 30, 2011, in his home in Oyster Bay, New York.